Latest news with #ALEC
Trade Arabia
3 days ago
- Business
- Trade Arabia
ALEC report outlines operational excellence, resilience for sustainable growth
ALEC Holdings, a leading construction and related services company, has released its latest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Sustainability report, underscoring the company's commitment to responsible growth and sustained operational excellence across its UAE and KSA operations. The company's sustainability achievements have been recognised externally. ALEC was awarded the Dubai Chamber of Commerce ESG Label and earned the 'Committed' sustainability badge from EcoVadis. The EcoVadis assessment covered 21 criteria across Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement, further validating ALEC's robust ESG posture. "We take pride in the results which showcase our maturing sustainability strategy that's fully integrated into our business model - not as a compliance exercise, but as a lever for resilience and regional growth," said Barry Lewis, CEO at ALEC Holdings. "As ALEC continues to deliver complex, high-value projects across the region, our ESG commitments serve as a key enabler of operational excellence and stakeholder trust," he stated "Our 2024 report reflects the tangible progress we've made in enhancing transparency, building workforce resilience, and embedding sustainability into every level of the business — from our project sites to the boardroom," he added. ALEC's reputation for governance and compliance was further reinforced this year by the successful rollout of 'ALEC ALERT' — a secure whistleblowing platform enabling employees, subcontractors and vendors to report unethical conduct anonymously. With 73.5% of staff* in the UAE and KSA completing ethics training, ALEC is fostering a culture of accountability that supports robust decision-making. This ethical foundation directly contributes to transparent financial practices and sound business stewardship, offering confidence to partners and stakeholders alike. ALEC said it has completed a comprehensive double materiality assessment - a significant step in refining its ESG priorities. By engaging a wide array of internal and external stakeholders including employees, investors, clients, auditors, consultants, and community partners, the company ensured its ESG and decarbonisation approach reflects evolving risks, opportunities, and expectations, it stated. This emphasis on governance is matched by ALEC's enduring investment in people. In 2024, more than 4,600 workers were trained at ALEC's dedicated trade skills facility, contributing to a healthy pipeline of internal promotions from labour to staff roles and measurable employee career advancement. With 68 nationalities represented and nearly 40% of managers* having completed gender diversity training, ALEC is building an inclusive workforce that reflects the increasingly global nature of clients and communities it serves, it added. 'Talent is one of the most critical assets for a business like ours, and our ability to attract, retain and grow top-tier professionals directly impacts the quality of what we deliver,' remarked Lewis. 'By investing in both upskilling and wellbeing, we ensure ALEC remains an employer of choice — and a partner clients can rely on to bring visionary projects to life,' he added. On the environmental front, ALEC has taken impactful steps to decarbonise operations and strengthen climate resilience across its assets and operations. Most of the company's offices and factories in the UAE and KSA were refurbished in 2024, not just to improve energy and water efficiency, but also to enhance workplace experience. With solar-diesel hybrid generators and battery energy storage systems (BESS) deployed at four ALEC Construction project sites, ALEC is reducing its dependence on fossil fuels to power its sites while enhancing operational efficiency.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
ALEC Holdings' 2024 ESG Report reflects operational excellence and resilience for sustainable, long-term growth
Dubai, UAE – ALEC Holdings (ALEC), a leading construction and related services company, today published its latest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Sustainability report, underscoring the company's commitment to responsible growth and sustained operational excellence across its UAE and KSA operations. The company's sustainability achievements have been recognised externally. ALEC was awarded the Dubai Chamber of Commerce ESG Label and earned the 'Committed' sustainability badge from EcoVadis. The EcoVadis assessment covered 21 criteria across Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement, further validating ALEC's robust ESG posture. 'We take pride in the results which showcase our maturing sustainability strategy that's fully integrated into our business model — not as a compliance exercise, but as a lever for resilience and regional growth. As ALEC continues to deliver complex, high-value projects across the region, our ESG commitments serve as a key enabler of operational excellence and stakeholder trust,' said Barry Lewis, CEO at ALEC Holdings. 'Our 2024 report reflects the tangible progress we've made in enhancing transparency, building workforce resilience, and embedding sustainability into every level of the business — from our project sites to the boardroom.' ALEC's reputation for governance and compliance was further reinforced this year by the successful rollout of 'ALEC ALERT' — a secure whistleblowing platform enabling employees, subcontractors and vendors to report unethical conduct anonymously. With 73.5% of staff* in the UAE and KSA completing ethics training, ALEC is fostering a culture of accountability that supports robust decision-making. This ethical foundation directly contributes to transparent financial practices and sound business stewardship, offering confidence to partners and stakeholders alike. ALEC completed a comprehensive double materiality assessment — a significant step in refining its ESG priorities. By engaging a wide array of internal and external stakeholders including employees, investors, clients, auditors, consultants, and community partners, the company ensured its ESG and decarbonisation approach reflects evolving risks, opportunities, and expectations. This emphasis on governance is matched by ALEC's enduring investment in people. In 2024, more than 4,600 workers were trained at ALEC's dedicated trade skills facility, contributing to a healthy pipeline of internal promotions from labour to staff roles and measurable employee career advancement. With 68 nationalities represented and nearly 40% of managers* having completed gender diversity training, ALEC is building an inclusive workforce that reflects the increasingly global nature of clients and communities it serves. 'Talent is one of the most critical assets for a business like ours, and our ability to attract, retain and grow top-tier professionals directly impacts the quality of what we deliver,' added Lewis. 'By investing in both upskilling and wellbeing, we ensure ALEC remains an employer of choice — and a partner clients can rely on to bring visionary projects to life.' On the environmental front, ALEC has taken impactful steps to decarbonise operations and strengthen climate resilience across its assets and operations. Most of the company's offices and factories in the UAE and KSA were refurbished in 2024, not just to improve energy and water efficiency, but also to enhance workplace experience. With solar-diesel hybrid generators and battery energy storage systems (BESS) deployed at four ALEC Construction project sites, ALEC is reducing its dependence on fossil fuels to power its sites while enhancing operational efficiency. These efforts align with national renewable energy strategies in both major markets for the company. Eight ALEC projects achieved LEED certification and five received a Pearl Estidama rating, with more under review. Beyond operations, ALEC continues to play an active role in enriching communities. Over 1,100 employees participated in CSR activities last year, contributing more than 548 volunteering hours that positively impacted over 6,300 people. Through partnerships with Dubai Cares, SmartLife (NPO/NGO) and Emirates Red Crescent, ALEC directed hundreds of thousands of dirhams towards education, labour welfare, and humanitarian initiatives in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Nepal. 'As we target an aggressive phase of regional growth, we believe our ESG strategy not only protects value, but actively drives it,' said Lewis. 'Our goal is to set the benchmark for sustainable construction operations in the Middle East — delivering world-class projects while raising the bar for ethics, environmental responsibility and workforce empowerment.' Methodology ALEC Holdings 2024 ESG report covers the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 and relates to the company's UAE and KSA operations. The report partially aligns with leading global ESG frameworks including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, the United Nations Global Compact's 10 principles, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Engineering & Construction Services metrics, and the Dubai Financial Market's ESG reporting guidelines. About ALEC ALEC Holdings, part of the Investment Corporate of Dubai (ICD), is a leading construction and related businesses group operating in the UAE and KSA. The company builds and provides construction solutions that set industry benchmarks for quality, safety, functionality, and aesthetics. ALEC Holdings offers its clients complete turnkey solutions in construction, MEP, fit-out, marine, oil & gas, modular construction, energy efficiency and solar projects, heavy equipment rental, technology systems and asset maintenance. With these capabilities, the company successfully serves a diverse range of sectors including airports, retail, hotels & resorts, high-rise buildings, and themed projects.
Newsweek
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Map Shows Best States for 'Education Freedom'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Florida is the top state for "education freedom," according to a study by the American Legislative Exchange Council. The nonprofit, formerly known as the Conservative Caucus of State Legislators, helps state lawmakers across the U.S. write legislation. In its 2025 Index of State Education Freedom report, it ranked states after scoring them on school choice programs and the availability of various educational environments. Why It Matters At least 29 states have implemented a program that uses vouchers, tax credits or scholarships to help parents pay for private school or education costs outside the public school setting, and more than a dozen states in recent years have launched or expanded programs that make most students eligible. Advocates say the programs give students a way out of underperforming public schools and let parents choose how best to educate their children. But critics say the programs drain money from public schools to help wealthier families whose children were already attending private schools. What To Know The index scored states based on the availability of charter schools, homeschooling, virtual schooling and open enrollment policies. The index also ranked each state based on the "education freedom" programs on offer, with the most points available for this category. Florida, which topped the index with a total of 89.87 points, was the only state to receive an A+ grade. Arizona (79.62), Arkansas (77.12), Oklahoma (72.93) and Iowa (72.78) rounded out the top five. New York ranked last on the index, with a score of 9.96 and an F grade. The other states in the bottom five also received F grades and were the only ones in the country to receive scores less than 20 points: Massachusetts (14.47), Oregon (15.02), Rhode Island (15.23) and Kentucky (19.57). According to ALEC's report, which was released in January, states scored higher if "education freedom" programs, including education scholarship accounts and voucher and tax-credit scholarship programs, were not subjected to funding or enrollment caps. Points were also awarded based on the program's participation rate. States also received more points if they did not cap charter school growth, when state law gave charter schools flexibility to operate freely and when those schools received similar funding to public schools. More points were awarded to states where parents were not required to provide notice that they were homeschooling and those that had fewer regulations about homeschooling. States also earned higher scores when virtual schooling was available statewide, and points were awarded to states that allowed intradistrict and interdistrict open enrollment. What People Are Saying Andrew Handel, the director of the Education and Workforce Development Task Force at ALEC, wrote in the report's introduction: "We are in the midst of an educational renaissance in America. At the time of writing, a record 12 states are empowering (or will soon be empowering) every family and every student with education freedom. These states recognize the unique needs of each student and that parents, not government bureaucrats, are best positioned to determine those needs and choose a school that best fits their student." Becky Pringle, the president of the National Education Association, said in a statement in January: "Every student deserves fully-funded neighborhood public schools that give them a sense of belonging and prepare them with the lessons and life skills they need to follow their dreams and reach their full potential. Instead of stealing taxpayer money to fund private schools, we should focus on public schools—where 90 percent of children, and 95 percent of children with disabilities, in America, attend—not take desperately needed funds away from them." What Happens Next Earlier in April, the Texas Legislature approved a $1 billion education bill that allows families to use taxpayer money to pay private school tuition. Lawmakers in several states are also considering bills to advance new school choice programs.
West Australian
30-04-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Government spends 49 per cent of three year budget spruiking live export policy, says export council
Nearly half of the advertising spend by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry since 2022 as been spent on sharing the live sheep export ban, the Australian Live Export Council says. According to a review by ALEC of Federal Government tenders under Anthony Albanese's cabinet, 49 per cent of the department's advertising spend has gone towards one tender related to the live sheep export ban. Public records show a $2.3 million tender was awarded to media and advertising agency Universal McCann, running between December 6, 2024 to February 28. According to the figures, the DAFF has spent more than $4.66 million on advertising tenders since 2022 which included $390,000 for Bird Flu public notices and hundreds of thousands for biosecurity international traveller advertising campaigns. ALEC chief executive officer Mark Harvey-Sutton said the live sheep export ban advertising campaign was not helping the communities most impacted. 'What we can see is that the Department has spent a staggering sum advertising the policy. Our calculations show that 49 per cent of all DAFF advertising since 2022 was dedicated to the ban,' he said. 'It's clear that this advertising was being used to spruik the policy into east coast locations where the Government hopes there is sympathy for the ban, rather than to farmers who will be hurt by it.' In 2024, the Federal Government passed legislation ending the live sheep export industry from mid-2028. While the government committed $139.7 million as transition support, many in the industry have called for more. The tender was brought up in a Senate estimates hearing in late February when Coalition Senators queried where the funds were going. It was confirmed five metropolitan newspapers, including the West Australian, were advertised in as well as 35 radio stations across Western Australia. According to Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Anthony Chisholm the advertising spend was not unusual. 'It's not unusual for the Government to advertise about decisions that have been made which is obviously what we're doing,' he said A DAFF spokesperson said the advertising campaign reflected the need to inform the national supply chain. 'The advertising was undertaken to inform the public of the decision to phase out live sheep exports by sea in 2028, the transition assistance that is available, and to visit the department's website for more information,' they said. 'While the sheep supply chain is national, the public information advertising had a higher weighting in Western Australia where the most impacted stakeholders are. 'Advertising was predominately placed in rural areas and as closely aligned to sheep farming and agriculture operations as possible, to ensure the target audience was reached. 'The proportion of advertising in WA was 69 per cent higher than the average of all jurisdictions. Radio accounted for around 75 per cent of national advertising. 'Other parts of Australia were included to capture the full breadth of the supply chain, including investors, business advisors and researchers.' The spokesperson said there was no further plans for paid advertising.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
For 18th year, Utah ranks No. 1 for best economic outlook. What could threaten its top spot?
The Utah Capitol and its North Building construction is pictured in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) Utah's top-ranking state Republicans called a news conference in front of the governor's mansion on Tuesday to celebrate yet another year of Utah ranking No. 1 for its economic outlook, according to a new report released by the pro 'limited government' think tank American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). To Gov. Spencer Cox, House Speaker Mike Schultz and Senate President Stuart Adams, Utah taking the report's top spot for 18 years in a row validates how Utah's GOP-controlled Legislature has been managing the state, not just decades into the past, but also to this day. By nurturing a business-friendly climate with low personal and corporate tax rates along with 'family friendly' policies, they said Utah is continuing its nearly two-decade streak of setting an example for other states to follow. Alongside its No. 1 economic outlook ranking, Utah also ranked No. 3 in the nation in the ALEC report for 'economic performance' based on its gross domestic product growth, domestic migration and non-farm payroll employment growth. It's a ranking not all Utah leaders agree with, however, as some Democrats point to working class Utahns' struggle to afford to live in the state. Utah tops ALEC's list of states with the best economic outlook, again To Cox, Utah's secret sauce is state leaders' 'forward-thinking nature' on economic, business and tax policy that fosters growth over decades — work that he said isn't easy or 'sexy' in today's polarized political landscape. And it's work that takes years, sometimes decades, to have an impact. 'As I talk to my colleagues around the country, this is really rare,' Cox said. 'It's very unique. The incentive structure around elections is to only look forward maybe two years or four years at most in our state. And that is true of most states.' The governor said there's a 'pull' to focus today's legislation in reaction to national hot-button issues. Without naming names, he said he spoke with a fellow governor from 'a state that is very close to ours' who said 'the biggest problem I have with my Legislature right now is they only care about right now.' 'One of the reasons that a lot of states aren't doing the policy work that our Legislature is doing is because it's hard and it's boring,' he said. 'There are not a lot of great social media memes about policy work that was done 40 years ago, (like) truth and taxation stuff. This stuff isn't sexy. It's not fun. You don't see immediate results the next year, it's just not made for today.' Utah isn't immune to that 'pull,' Cox acknowledged. Political 'toxicity' is among the concerns he named that could threaten Utah's economic ranking, which he said could 'turn us into every other state, where we just focus on the stuff that really doesn't matter but gets the most attention.' 'I will just tell you, there are a lot of new legislators who came in not interested in this stuff,' Cox said. '(They're) really interested in a lot of other stuff that gets a lot of attention. And we have to be intentional about passing that on and making sure that every generation (of leaders), they realize that this is who we are. This stuff matters and we have to keep going.' He also named the state's stubbornly high housing costs and energy challenges as other issues that could spell trouble — but he also expressed optimism that the Utah Legislature is working to tackle those problems, not shy away. Cox didn't point to specific issues or legislators, but in recent years some of Utah's most attention-grabbing and controversial bills stem from national hot-button issues. Last year, the Legislature approved transgender bathroom restrictions and anti-DEI measures in higher education and public entities. This year, Utah became the first state in the nation to enact a broad flag ban in schools and government-owned buildings and the first to ban adding fluoride to public water. Cox supported and signed the fluoride ban, but allowed the flag ban to become law without his signature. An ALEC-backed bill, however, was among the most controversial to win approval from the 2025 Utah Legislature: HB267 which bans public sector unions from collective bargaining. In a Feb. 19 post, ALEC deemed the bill's sponsors 'policy champions' for their effort to 'increase government accountability to state taxpayers.' But a referendum effort is underway to overturn the law. Wednesday, the Protect Utah Workers Coalition is expected to deliver its signatures in its bid to put the referendum on the ballot. For its annual 'Rich States, Poor States' rankings, ALEC — a nonprofit that convenes state legislators and corporations to draft model legislation that is 'dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism,' according to its site — said its economic outlook rankings are a forecast based on state standings in 15 policy variables. 'Generally speaking, states that spend less — especially on income transfer programs — and states that tax less — particularly on productive activities such as working or investing — experience higher growth rates than states that tax and spend more,' the 2025 report says. Utah ranked high for its lack of an estate or inheritance tax, a low state minimum wage of $7.25, its status as a right-to-work state, and average workers' compensation costs of $0.86. It also won points for 'recently legislated tax changes' (lawmakers this year cut taxes for a fifth year in a row, totaling $1.4 billion over time), its flat corporate and income rate of 4.55%, and a relatively low property tax burden of $23.54 per $1,000 of personal income, among other policies. Utah Legislature OKs another round of tax cuts, totaling $1.4 billion in 5 years Adams, the state's Senate president, also pointed to a newly published report by the University of Utah's Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute that shows Utah's median household income of $98,336 ranked the state highest in the U.S. when adjusted for price parity. 'I mean, how can you get better than being the No. 1 economy with the best personal income?' Adams, R-Layton said. 'You have families making a lot of money. And that is way cool. They can send their kids to college.' Though critics often point to Utah's bottom-of-the-nation rankings when it comes to per-pupil education spending, Adams said the state has been increasing public education spending, including a boost to teacher pay this year that legislative leaders say put Utah among the top states in the Mountain West with the highest starting salaries for teachers. 'We're cutting taxes and paying teachers more. How do you do that without a strong economy? … Not many states can do both,' Adams said. 'It's a great day, not only for the state of Utah, but it is a really good day for those that want to have personal wealth and be able to take care of their families.' Not everyone agrees that ALEC's rankings are a holistic indicator of Utah's performance as a state. One of the state's top Democrats, House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, issued a statement on Tuesday arguing that ALEC's report 'provides a concerningly biased evaluation of economic success in our state.' 'Rather than accounting for factors that affect regular working people and families, the index praises Utah for its low minimum wage and tax cuts in favor of corporations,' she said. That's problematic given that wages have not kept pace with cost of living, Romero said. She added that economic uncertainty under President Donald Trump's second administration could bring more stress for businesses and working-class families. 'Rising housing costs, increasing prices on basic necessities, and stagnant wages have left countless Utahns struggling to make ends meet in the very communities they've called home for generations,' she said. 'On top of that, federal layoffs and our current economic uncertainty have forced businesses to make difficult decisions, resulting in even more financial stress for working families across the state. All of this compounds a growing sense of fear and frustration.' Romero added that 'although we celebrate these rankings, we must not allow them to cloud over our shortfalls.' 'Utah has consistently ranked among the lowest states for women's equality, and is regularly listed among the ten worst states for workers, with particularly poor outcomes in wages, collective bargaining rights, and labor protections,' she said. 'As a state, we must protect the economic outlook for all Utahns, not only a select few.' For years, though, Utah's conservative leadership has applauded ALEC's rankings as a gold standard. Schultz, the House speaker, said ALEC's ranking shows Utah's success is 'rooted in the principles that work: low taxes, reasonable spending, and a business-friendly but most importantly a family-friendly environment that fosters innovation and upward mobility.' 'It's capitalism, it's competition,' Adams said. 'It's trying to make things better. I have 16 grandkids. Talk about vision. I want those 16 grandkids to have better upward mobility, to have a better life than I have. … That's what we do in Utah. Competition is a great thing, and I look forward to other states pushing us.' In that spirit of competition, Cox, Adams and Schultz chuckled when Jonathan Williams, ALEC president and co-author of the report, noted that one state is on the rise and could be giving Utah a run for its money in coming years: Tennessee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'We saw Tennessee this year move from No. 12 to No. 2, and now is nipping at the heels of Utah,' he said. Tennessee ranked high for its lack of a personal income tax, no estate tax, its low property tax burden, and 'personal income tax progressivity,' which the report defined as the difference between average tax liability per $1,000 at incomes of $50,000 and $150,000.' Utah leaders have repeatedly said they want Utah to get rid of its income tax — but that would require a major tax overhaul legislators have not yet tackled, and a drastic change to how the state funds public education, which is required under the Utah Constitution to be funded through income tax revenue. In the meantime, though, lawmakers continue to gradually cut the income tax rate. Speaking about Utah's competition with other states, though, Cox said he's happy to see Tennessee surface as a healthy competitor. 'They deserve it. I love what they're doing out there.' He added that the state is 'copying many things that are happening in Utah, and I couldn't be more proud.' He added Utah leaders 'reject the zero-sum mindset. We do not believe that our economy is a zero-sum game, that if someone else wins, we lose. That's not how we look at it.' Still, the governor indicated Utah will continue to look for ways to keep its No. 1 ALEC ranking. He half-jokingly said at the end of Tuesday's news conference, 'We're going to take care of Tennessee. Don't worry.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
